Fatal Wrong-Way Crash Leads to Charges for 16-Year-Old Suspect After Police Pursuit

Charges have been filed against a 16-year-old male suspect following a fatal crash on Wednesday night at 3400 East Freeway (East Interstate Highway 10) around 8:45 p.m.

The suspect faces charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and felony evading arrest in a motor vehicle. Additional charges are possible as the investigation unfolds. The suspect, currently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, will be referred to Harris County Juvenile Probation authorities.

The identity of the deceased female victim, believed to be a teenager, is awaiting confirmation by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The incident began when officers spotted a stolen silver Kia Rio on Ruiz Street, initiating a pursuit. The suspect, driving recklessly, entered the Eastex Freeway exit ramp going the wrong way. For safety reasons, officers terminated the pursuit.

Despite the termination, it is believed the suspect continued traveling in the wrong direction on the Eastex Freeway, eventually entering the I-10 East Freeway via the connector ramp, moving eastbound in the westbound lanes. The suspect collided with a gray Kia Forte traveling westbound on the East Freeway.

Officers, who were searching for the suspect on the correct freeways, located the crash site but did not witness the collision. Paramedics were called to the scene and transported the 51-year-old male driver of the Kia Forte, along with the suspect and four passengers aged 14 to 16, to a hospital. Tragically, the backseat passenger, the female victim, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash occurred approximately three minutes after the pursuit was terminated. The investigation remains ongoing.